Seroquel and Weight Gain: What Users Say (Page 4)

• vos...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 12, 2017

For Schizophrenia "Definitely calmed me down during the first-time onset of schizophrenia. However, it makes me very sleepy, sometimes I sleep 14 hours a day, and when I wake up, I feel like I want to sleep even more. Also resulted in a lot of weight gain. Eventually, had to stop taking it because of how tired I always was."

• Jea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 25, 2018

For Bipolar Disorder "I was put on this med years ago and taken off. I asked him why I stopped taking it because of weight gain, I don't feel that was the only reason. I have had problems with anxiety and depression for a long time, but it got extremely worse. The anxiety was so bad that I couldn't eat, gave me worse flashbacks from my PTSD, which was caused by trauma throughout my life (domestic abuse and rape). I got headaches, eye pain, palpitations, my hypothyroidism was all off, stomach pain, worse depression to the point I lost weight, which I am already thin. I could go on, but the Dr didn't take into consideration that I suffer from epilepsy, got vertigo, seizures increased. I ended up yesterday in a crisis center because I couldn't stop crying and had racing thoughts, which I forgot to mention. And the flashbacks of my life were one after another. Just was not a good choice of medication for me, especially with physical issues."

• Anonymous
• December 4, 2011

For Bipolar Disorder "I have been taking Seroquel 200 mg for over a year for bipolar disorder. After years of taking antidepressants, I couldn't figure out why they weren't working. I was having really bad manic episodes that would last days to weeks, in which I was staying up for days at a time, spending money I didn't have, and had extreme OCD. My anxiety and mood swings were spinning out of control, and I was failing as a mother. I started therapy and Seroquel and noticed an immediate difference in my manic episodes and insomnia. I gained weight at first but have since lost it over the course of the year. I am taking Adderall during the day, and I am back in college, working as a full-time accountant and am able to relax at night with my family."

• Anonymous
• April 16, 2011

For Borderline Personality Disorder "Seroquel changed my life. After roughly 20 years of treatment with medications for borderline personality disorder, I had a new doctor put me on Seroquel. At first, I resented the sedation, but after time, I adjusted to it and the dosage was moderated and timed differently. Ultimately, however, it was the first medicine to thoroughly handle my anxiety and stop my obsessive thoughts in their tracks. The only downside has been the carbohydrate cravings and weight gain, but even those have become manageable with other supplements and medications. The gains far outweigh losses."

• sag...
• April 5, 2009

For Bipolar Disorder "I was diagnosed with bipolar one about a year ago and originally took Abilify until I realized it gave me severe anxiety. My doctor changed me to Seroquel, which I take before bed. It did take a while to adjust to how sedating it was, but it relieved me of my insomnia. However, I have been gaining weight steadily since beginning Seroquel, with an insatiable urge to eat about an hour after I take my medication. No matter what I do to lose weight - 15 pounds gained since Seroquel - I cannot lose the weight. I love the fact that it seems to work well with my body and cures my insomnia, but there's got to be something better for me that doesn't cause me to gain so much weight."

• st3...
• September 11, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "After being on this medication for several months, I finally reached a dosage (600 mg) that helped. I needed this to calm down my manic state. This being said, I gained close to 20 lbs. As an 18-year-old girl, this affected my confidence greatly. I was on a vegan diet for 7 months prior to being on this medication and stayed on the diet while taking it. My weight was stable around 125 for all those months, however, upon starting, I went up to 145. Not to mention how absolutely exhausted this medication made me. I highly suggest trying to find another medication."

• Bri...
• August 15, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "Seroquel XR definitely helped me with my moods and rapid cycling. But... gave it away because I was forever hungry. I lost all internal compass on whether or not I required food, which is scary for me because I've always been normal weight and relied upon internal hunger cues to direct my eating. These cues were lost on Seroquel. I wanted to eat all the time! I put myself on a strict diet, yet the weight still kept creeping on. In my opinion, Seroquel lowers the metabolism, such that you'd have to restrict your calorie intake quite seriously. I'm going to try Latuda instead, as it's a 'weight neutral' preparation."

• Kay...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 12, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "Hmm about this medication... I literally do not recommend it at all! As someone with Bipolar 2, I was put on Seroquel for my rapid, unstable moods. I was on it for quite some time, and I noticed the rapid weight gain. Not just that, but I was literally sleeping all the time! When I was awake, I felt like a zombie. Quite frankly, it's a nightmare! Thank God I went off it."

• Lou...
• October 14, 2010

For Insomnia "I have been on Seroquel 150 mg since the age of 13. I have had sleeping problems since the 4th grade. I am now 20 years old. Without my Seroquel, I'll go weeks without sleep. But with it, once I take it, about an hour later, I'm fast asleep! I do not know what I would do without it. The only bad thing I can honestly say: I have gained 100 lbs from taking Seroquel, mostly due to the hunger feelings it causes right before I'll fall asleep. I would very much rather be a large girl who can sleep than a skinny girl who never sleeps. I would recommend Seroquel to anyone, as long as you aren't someone who has a problem with some weight gain."

• Wha...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 23, 2015

For Schizoaffective Disorder "Seroquel is awesome. 300 mg kicked my butt. It took a year to drop down to 100 mg. No matter the dosage, I don't snap out of it until midday. Best sleep ever. Gained a lot of weight. My worst side effect is tight muscles, in legs more than anywhere."

• Jen...
• March 1, 2012

For Insomnia "I take 100 mgs of Seroquel at bedtime (for almost a year now), and I have started to build a tolerance to it, so it takes about an hour or two until I start feeling tired, but once I am asleep... I am sound asleep! I have read many posts about the weight gain. I have gained about 30 lbs since I've started taking Seroquel. I spoke to my doctor about it, and he is now switching me to Chloral Hydrate 500 mgs ONLY due to my weight gain and concern. I hope the new medication works just as well. Hopefully, I can shake off this weight and get a good night's rest, but overall, I would recommend Seroquel to ANYONE dealing with insomnia. I am definitely not throwing the rest of my Seroquel script out just in case this new medicine is a flop. Good luck to all."

• hap...
• July 23, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "I have been taking Seroquel for 18 months and have gained about 30 lb. I take 200 mg at night and find I feel as if I am starving and eat crazy amounts of sugary food that I crave. I find that when I wake, my eyes have a haze over them for a half hour or so. If I miss a dose, I cannot sleep no matter how much I try. I get a clenched jaw and grind my teeth when I miss a dose. I was in prison and sometimes was not given the opportunity to take it. Those nights and days were long. I will say that it helps slow the mind down and it is amazing to get to sleep. With that said, after taking it, I was ready for bed in about 20 min whether I wanted to sleep then or not. When I tried stopping, I did not sleep right for months."

• ran...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 17, 2023

For Bipolar Disorder "I have panic disorder, and my doctor prescribed a low dose of Seroquel a few years ago to take for sleep and quick relief for panic attacks, and it works a charm. I got off it for well over a year before my panic came back, so I asked to go back on it. I'm on 150 mg XR at nighttime now and still have the instant release 25 mg, which I haven't had to take in months. The only downside I can find is weight gain, I have gained a lot of weight, but also I don't exercise or eat healthily, so that's my fault. Eat a healthy diet and exercise, and you'll be right. It has helped with my intrusive thoughts associated with my panic and suspected OCD."

• Anonymous
• November 25, 2011

For Insomnia "Taking 25 mg. Works fantastically! Takes about an hour on 25 mg (used to take 50 mg, and it put me out in 30 mins, however, I was required at least 8 hours of sleep. Many times my alarm wouldn't even wake me up on 50 mg). However, like just about everyone else said, if I don't take it, I will NOT sleep. Also experienced weight gain (25 lbs in 2 months), so I am going to see if another sleep medication will work the same with fewer side effects. Does make me quite hungry about 30 mins after taking it, and I can't sleep on an empty stomach."

• Lil...
• December 5, 2011

For Insomnia "I would NOT recommend taking this medication for longer than a few weeks for insomnia. It works amazingly well at first, but then, over the course of time, you will need to up the dosage to get the same result. Over time, you will find that the medication makes you groggy and can cause weight gain. Then, when you try to get off, it is very, very hard. I was only on 50 mgs for 6 months, and it has taken 2 months for my sleep to occur naturally more than in 2-hour increments. Overall, it made my insomnia worse."

• Anonymous
• September 3, 2009

For Bipolar Disorder "Seroquel really snapped me out of a terrible manic episode. The self-injury, obsessive thoughts, and sleeplessness stopped within two days of my first doses. Currently, it is a regular part of my drug cocktail, at a maintenance dose of 50 mg. It is the only drug that has truly been able to hold the mania at bay. I have had weight gain, but I will select weight gain over a living hell every single time. Seroquel makes me happy to be alive again."

• Anonymous
• December 13, 2011

For Depression "Have been on Seroquel for 4 weeks for depression. I take it before bed. Still experiencing a 'hangover' type feeling in the mornings. I gained 8 pounds in the first 3 weeks I took it. Makes me want to eat even when I am not hungry. However, I am not crying as much, can handle day-to-day life better, and I haven't had chest pain or racing heartbeats since I started, which is a great improvement."

• the...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 13, 2012

For Depression "Seroquel was awful. My doctor prescribed two 700 mg at night, and I slept so much! When I wasn't sleeping, I was exercising, still, I gained 30 lbs. I had extreme paranoia, never knew where I was or how I got there, and always woke up in sleep paralysis. It made my depression, anxiety, and bipolar worse."

• Tam...
• March 1, 2019

"I have been on Seroquel for 3 months, started out on 150 mg for anxiety and panic attacks, which it isn't listed for. Within that 3 months, my cholesterol, which is already high, raised over 24 more points. I gained 20 pounds within the 2 months. My arthritis, which is already bad, has gotten even worse. Most of the weight gain was water retention and bloating. It has not helped with my anxiety at all. It does help me sleep for a few hours, but not the whole night. I reduced the dosage to 50 mg myself because of the side effects and have since lost some of the weight. I am sleeping better. Maybe I was on too high of a dose. But all of the side effects that I have are side effects that this drug causes. It may work for some people, but not for me. And for me, the side effects are just too much. I don't think that this medication should be prescribed to people who have certain conditions. As soon as I can get my PCP to prescribe something that will help me sleep better, I'm done with this poison."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 28, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "Worst medication ever! I took a small dose of 50 mg at bedtime, and it gave me the worst sugar cravings and made me eat uncontrollably! I took Seroquel for 9 months and gained 40 pounds. Do not take this medication, it destroyed my health!"

• son...
• June 19, 2011

For Insomnia "Seroquel has saved me from the anxiety of not falling asleep at night. I too was on Ambien and some natural supplements. I felt like I was living outside myself in a fog. After Seroquel, I sleep and I'm rested. Occasionally, I have killer nightmares that are different from other dreaming I've had. I did gain about 10 pounds as I got the munchies before I went to bed. I have that under control, and I'm not munching, I've lost 5-6 lbs. I did have a terrible time getting up in the morning, but I am hypothyroid. The doctor added 100 mg of Wellbutrin, and I can get up now. I wish I could sleep without all that, but I can express the level of gratitude for this gift."

• bip...
• October 13, 2010

For Bipolar Disorder "Taking for 2 years. Only side effect is dry mouth, but this can be handled as long as you take it with a full glass of water. I now sleep. Being bipolar, I was up 4 days at a time. Seroquel gave me my life back. I hope it continues to work for me. Gained maybe a few pounds. That's it."

• Bip...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 22, 2021

For Bipolar Disorder "Three years ago, I was diagnosed with MDD and was prescribed Escitalopram, which pushed me into hypomania (but I just thought I'm happy again). I was feeling great, but six months later, the AD just (suddenly) stopped working, and I was feeling even more depressed. Then I was switched to Effexor, which again helped and pushed me into milder hypomania. Same story, six months later, it just pooped out. My diagnosis was changed to Bipolar 2 (the doctor increased Effexor and started Lamictal, and this combo didn't work at all). Then I tried the Olanzapine and Prozac combo (in seven days +4kg), so I quit. Then Paroxetine with Ladiomil (didn't work). I was desperate. I tried Wellbutrin, then Tianeptine - 0 change. Quit all, started Seroquel 300mg. In ten days, I started to feel the depression lifting. Added Lamictal 200mg to Seroquel. I don't feel hypomanic, just stable and starting to enjoy life again, getting better daily. I hope once I'm fully remitted, I can wean off Seroquel and stay on Lamictal as a maintenance."

• Anonymous
• May 12, 2010

For Bipolar Disorder "I have bipolar type II and have been taking Seroquel for the past two years. It has helped a great deal by stabilizing my moods and providing me with a good night's sleep every night, no matter what. Each morning, I wake up feeling refreshed and in control of my day. Used to take 300 mg a day, but now I only need 100 mg, or 150-200 mg on bad days. This was the only medicine that did not cause tremors or restless legs. I've been on Lamictal and Geodon, which all caused tremors. It got rid of the angry hypomanic episodes. The 300 mg caused only minimal weight gain (I gained more weight when I was on lithium) and extra drowsiness in the mornings."

• ano...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 19, 2013

"I've been taking this since January 2013 for depression and insomnia. It has worked wonders, except for the weight gain factor. You feel the need to snack all the time, which has caused me to develop bulimia. I have a past of anorexia, and literally everyone in my immediate family has had eating disorders. I wouldn't recommend this to someone terrified of weight gain. Other than that, it's great."